Washing machine



A. H. PETERS WASHING MACHINE Feb. 5, 1935.

Filed Jan. 15, 1932 Patented Feb. 5, 1935 t UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEWASHING MAGHINE Arthur H. Peters, Fort Wayne, Ind., assignor to HortonManufacturing Company, Fort Wayne, Ind., a corporation of IndianaApplication January 13, 1932, SerialN o. 586,330

16 Claims. (CI. 68-15) The invention relates generally to washing toornament and stifien the same and the legs machines and it has for itsprimary object the 12 are spot welded to the band. The legs 12production of a simplified yet sturdy structure and 12 are preferablyformed from sheet metal, which facilitates, and reduces the cost of,manuand are flanged along their edges and widened facture and assemblyof such machines. v at the top to provide strength and are connected 5Another object is to produce a washing maby cross braces 20 adjacenttheir lower ends. chine wherein the tub is secured on the sup- To insureagainst relative vertical displaceporting frame by simple and effectiveclamping ment of the tub and base 11, provision is prefmeans whichavoids the use of bolts or screws erably made for mechanicallyinterengaging the 10 extending through the tub. tub and base as anincident to the clamping of 10 Another-object is to provide a washingmathe band 16 upon the tub. This end is, in the chine in which thewringer supporting casting present instance, attained through theprovision is mounted in a novel manner upon the supof an outwardlyprojecting bead 21 on the tub porting base whereby to obtain therequisite i'iadjacent its lower edge adapted to be engaged gidity in theCasting hout t e essity for by a complemental groove 22 formed along the15 fixing the upper end thereof to the tub. I upper edge. of the band16. Manufacturing in- Other objects and dvanta s W me apaccuracies arerendered immaterial and a noiset from the wing description taken in lessor non-squeaking support for the tub prooonneotion With the a p y d avided by interposing resilient means between the which shows thepreferred embodiment of the t in and t band Preferably t means 20 v n ain Which! comprises an annular band 23 of resilient mate- Figure 1 is aside elevational view of a washrial, preferably rubber, adapted to beput in ing machine embodying the tu s of h place in encircling relationto the tub and upon v n i ni r a portions being br k w to the bead 21prior to the placing of the tub in h w h n r n r i position on the baseunit 11. The resilient band 2 is a plan section taken alongv the i 23 isformed to fit over the head 21 and by its of contraction on the bead ismaintained in proper Fig. 3 is a fragmental vertical sectional viewposition on th t b hile the tub is being positaken along the line oftioned within the clamping band 16 of the base i In the preferred formchosen for disclosure unit. The clamping band is then contractedupon 30herein, the invention is illustrated as embodied the tub by the bolts 18so that the tub and base in a domestic washing machine of theoscillatare firmly h together,

ing t t yp w n the power for osoil- The gear casing 13 is positionedbeneath the at t e agitator iS transmitted through tub so that one endis located centrally of the bottom of a Sheet metal tub 10 carried on abase unit 11 while the other end projects beyond 35 b unit 11 having a pa ity of Supporting the side of the base unit, preferably beneath thelegs 12 a In the production of the clamping flanges 1'7, in which casethe lower corehine, the b unit 11 i5 Separately formed and ners of theclamping band 16 are notched as at assembled with its legs 12 and 12 andthe gear 24 (F'jg 3) t permit th upper surface of the i0 Casing securedthereto, after which the tub gear casing 13 to "be located above thelower edge 10 10 is fi in place oi1 the base unit, a center of theclamping band 16. The projecting end of post 14 is fixed within the tub10 and a wringer th gear casing 13 is supported by the leg 12 supportingcasting 15 is fixed to the structure on bolted t th b tt f th gearcasing 13through one Side of the tub the medium of an inturned flange25. The leg h To facilitate assembly and reduce the material 125- isimilar in form t th legs 12 and for pur- 45 and labor costs, theb'aseunit 11 is formed from poses of symmetry this leg has its upper endan elongated relatively wide strip of sheet metal furcat d at 12b to t dupwardly along the bent to provide an annular band 16 adapted to sidesof t casing nd inside of the clamping encircle the lower portion of thetub 10 and band 1 h bifurcated ends of the leg 12- having the two endsof the strip bent outwardly are not connected to the band 1 50 to p iflanges engageable by bolts 13 for The other or centrally located end ofthe easclamp g the band 16 upon the tub Thils ing is supported by aplate 26 bolted at 27 to the band 16 forms, in'efiect, a transverselysplit the top of the gear casing to serve aS a cover clamping ring. 7therefor arid having a portion extending beyond 557 At its lower edgethe band 16 has beads 19 one end of said casing. Said extending portionconceal the clamping iianges 17.

is secured by bolts 28 to the clamping band 16 substantially oppositefrom the clamping flanges 17. Thus the gear casing is supported inproper position as a part of the base unit 11 prior to the assembly ofthe tub on the base unit, and a center post support 29 bolted on theupper surface; of the plate 26 engages the bottom of the tub 10 as it islowered into the clamping band 16 to initially locate the tub in theproper vertical relation to the clamping band. 1 The center post support29 is internally screw threaded at its upper end to receive a threadednipple 30 formed on the flanged lower end of the center post 14, thenipple 30 being screwed loosely into position prior to the clamping ofthe band 16,, so as to properly center the tub. g

After the tub 10 has been clamped, the wringer supporting casting 15 issecured in place on the projecting end of the gear casing 13. Thecasting 15 is hollow and at its lower end is enlarged as at 31 with oneopen; side so as to enclose and As the casting 15 is drawn downwardly bybolts 32 into engagement with the upper surface of the gear casing 13, arib or abutment "33 formed on the casting 15 engages thefupper edges ofthe flanges 1''! so as to hold the gear casing 13 against downwarddisplacement, even though the machine is raised from the floor When thebolts 32 are tightened, the distance between the abutment 33 and the topof the gear casing is such that the top ento the top of the tub. Afterthe casting 15 has been clamped in place, the assembly er the ma;- chineis completed by tightening the center post 14 and inserting casters 34in the conventionally socketed lower ends of the legs 12 and 12 From theforegoing description, it will be apparent that the invention hasprovided a washing machine in which the-parts may be easily andeconomically manufactured and assembled and in which the wringersupporting casting is rigidly 1 supported without the use of boltsengaging the tub adjacent its upper edge. V

I claim as my invention: 1. A washing machine comprising in'combination,a tub, a base unit for supporting the tub having clamping meansencircling the tub, means on said tub coacting with said clamping meansto secure said tub on said unit, and an endless resilient contractileband encircling said tub and by its contraction thereon maintaining aposition on. said tub wherein it will be interposed and act resilientlbetween said tub and said clamping means.

2. A washing machine comprising a base unit having supporting legs, atub supported on said base'unit, said unit having a single clampingdevice with its operating means located at one side of said base unit,means on said tub coacting with said clamping device to secure said tubon said base, and a wringer supporting casting secured on said base unitin a position to conceal the operating means of said clamping device.

3. A washing machine having a tub, a base unit comprisinga split annularclamping ring surrounding and clamping said tub, a gear casing fixedlyconnected at one end to said ri g opposite the split of said ring, saidcasing and said ring beingrelatively shiftable transversely of said ringat the other end of said casing, m'eans supporting said other end ofsaid casing upon ring adjacent to said split, and legs supporting saidring.

4. A washing machine combining atub and a supporting structure thereforcomprising an open upstanding frame member having a plurality of legsfixed thereto, a gear casing adjacent the bottom of the frame andextending from the axial center thereof and having one} end extendingbeyond one side thereof, a support extending from the inner end of saidgear casing and connected to the side of said frame for supporting thecentrally located endoi said casing, an additional leg secured to saidcasing to support the projecting end of said casing, means for clampingsaid tub in place on said: structure, and a wringersupporting castingsecured to the projecting end of said casing and having means thereonengaging the top of said frame member to prevent downward displacementof said projecting end of the casing :with respect to said member.

5. A washing machine comprising in combination, a tub, a supportingstructure for said tub, a gear casing positioned beneath and secured; tosaid itch and having one end projecting beyond the side of said tub, anupstanding wringer supporting casting having its lower end positioned onand bolted down against the projecting end of said casing, and opposingabutments on said casting and supporting structure a substantialdistance above the lower end of said casting and interengageable toimpart rigidity to said casting.

6. A washing machine comprising, combination, a separately assembledbase unit having a transversely split ring, a pluralit of legs connectedto said ring to form stablesupport for said ring whereby the ring ispositioned in an elevated horizontal position, a tub the lower portionof which is adapted to "fit Within said ring, means for tightening saidring on said tub, and coacting means on said tub and said ring toprevent both upward and downward displacement of the tub with relationto base unit. x

'7. 'A washing machine comprising, in combination, a tub, a splitcontractile ring encircling and clamping the lower iend of said tab,means for contracting said ring, a gear casing positioned beneath saidtab and extending adjacent said split, and means fixed to said casingand resting on said ring adjacent said split, said means fitting snuglyagainst said ring on both sides of said split and enclosing said spliton said contracting means.

8. A washing machine comprising, in combination, a base unit havingsupporting legs, a tub supported on said base unit, said unit comprisinga transversely split clamping ring encircling said tub and havingclamping flanges at its ends projecting radially outward therefrom, andmeans for drawing said flanges together to clamp the tub within thering, and means fitting snugly against said ring on opposite sides ofsaid split and concealing said split and said first-mentioned means.

9. A washing machine comprising, in combination, a tub, a base unitsupporting said tub comprising a transversely split ring surrounding andperipherally clamping the lower portion of said tub, said ringbeingflshaped to cooperate with the shape of the tub to provide asupport against downward movement of the tub relative to the ring,resilient means positioned between the tub and the ring, and means torclamping said ring to secure the ring and tub together.

10. A washing machine comprising, in combination, a tub, a transverselysplit ring encircling the tub, means for tightening said ring on saidtub, a gear casing beneath the tub, a plate serving as a cover for saidcasing and having a ortion extending beyond one end of said casing andsecured to said ring, and a wringer-supporting casting having meansthereon securing the other end of said casing to said ring.

11. A washing machine comprising, in combination, atub, a transverselysplit ring encircling the tub, means for tightening said ring on saidtub, a gear casing beneath the tub connected at one end to said ringwith its other end extending beyond the tub adjacent the split, and awringer supporting casting secured to' said other end oi the casing andhaving an abutment resting on the top of a portion of said ring, saidabutment being spaced from the top of said casing a suflicient distanceto bring said top of the casing into abutment with the lower edge of aportion of said ring to prevent relative vertical movement between thering and the casing.

12. A washing machine comprising, in combination, a tub, a split ring,means for drawing the ends of said ring adjacent to the split towardeach other to clamp the tub, a gear casing located beneath said tub andconnected at one end to said ring at a point remote from said split, andmeans for securing the other end of the gear casing and the ring againstrelative vertical movement at a point adjacent to said split.

13. A washing machine comprising, in combination, a tub, a split ring,means for drawing the ends of said ring adjacent said split toward eachother to clamp the tub, a gear casing connected at one end to said ringat a point remote from said split, and means engaging said ring atopposite sides of said split for rigidly securing the gear casing andring together.

14. A washing machine structure comprising a tub, and a baseunitassembled in fixed relation to said tub and comprising a contractilemetallic ring, the upper edge of which surrounds the lower portion orthe sides of the tub and the lower portion of which projects asubstantial distance below the bottom wall of the tub, a plurality oflegs fixed to said lower portion of the ring and extending downwardlytherefrom, means i'or contracting said ring about said tub to hold thetub and said base unit rigidly together, a gear casing positioned underthe tub and within said lower portion of the ring and substantiallyconcealed thereby, and means for supporting said gear casing attached tosaid lower portion of the ring.

15, A washing machine comprising, in combination, a tub, a splitcontractile supporting ring encircling and clamping the lower end ofsaid tub, -means for contracting said ring, a gear casing positionedbeneath said tub, and means for supporting said casing from said ringincluding a part fixed to said casing and resting on said 16. A washingmachine structure comprising a tub, and a base unit assembled in fixedrelation to said tub and comprising a contractile metallic ring, theupper edge of which surrounds the lower portion of the sides of the tuband the lower portion of which projects a substantial distance below thebottom wall of the tub, a plurality of legs fixed to said,ring andextending downwardly therefrom, means for contracting said ring aboutsaid tub to hold the tub and said base unit rigidly together, a gearcasing beneath said tub, and means including a supporting memberextending across said ring for supporting said gear casing directly fromsaid ring.

ARTHUR H. PETERS.

